Police alert over mail inheritance fraudsters

Police said yesterday there has been a recent increase in the number of people contacting officers about fraudulent letters they have received from foreign countries, particularly China, which claim they are entitled to money.

West Yorkshire Police said the fraudsters often target the elderly and said the letters appear genuine, are correctly addressed and refer to the occupant by the correct name.

The letter informs the resident they have been found to be the only surviving relative of a person who has recently died abroad and that they are therefore the sole beneficiary of their estate, which is declared to be significant.

However, the letter asks the resident to send around £50 to £150 to cover “processing costs”.

Once the resident sends the funds they then tend to receive further letters asking for more money, claiming that the transfer of the inherited funds have been delayed due to a variety of reasons, including being held up in transit or subject to additional taxes, police said last night.

More money is required to be sent to “release” the inheritance.

Although the scam letters have appeared across the county there has been an increase in the West Yorkshire region, in particular the North Leeds area, and tend to have been sent to elderly people.

West Yorkshire Police yesterday warned people in the county to be on their guard and be aware that the letters may look genuine but were actually a scam.

Det Sgt Jeanette Roberts, of West Yorkshire Police’s Economic Crime Unit, said: “The letters appear genuine and look official but are in fact fraudulent and leave people out of pocket when they respond to them.

“I would encourage anyone who receives a letter of this nature not to respond to it and report it to their nearest police station,” she added.